Klenteng Ling Gwan Kiong – Singaraja, Bali

Just off Jalan Erlangga and a stones throw from the ocean sits the beautiful Chinese temple Ling Gwan Kiong.

A colourful and beautifully constructed klenteng, access to the temple is via a water bridge over a pond filled with pink and white lotus flowers. An unusual array of Koi fish can be seen in the depths of the water of this quaint passover to the inner temple.

I spoke to the guardian of the temple, an elderly Chinese man hard of hearing, and I found it hard to obtain the information I needed regarding the klenteng. Instead, he ushered me into one of the many prayer areas, and smiled. Gold Bhudda statues and ornately decorated textiles were to be found everywhere. I was particularly impressed with the murals of Deities hand-painted on the entrance doors and surrounding walls.

I can well imagine this temple to be a hive of pageantry and colour during Imlek, Chinese New Year.